Craig Bellamy's squad Set to Take on Anyone in World Cup Qualifying Draw

Wales' attention are squarely on Thursday's World Cup play-off fixture as they prepare for discovering their semi-final and potential final challengers.

After ended second in their qualification group following a decisive 7-1 triumph over North Macedonia – their largest success since 1978 – the side will host the semifinal encounter on their own turf.

They will meet either the Albanian side, Bosnia, Kosovo or Ireland in that fixture on 26 March.

Ex- Wales forward Rob Earnshaw feels the Welsh squad will relish a match against whichever team following their most recent result at Cardiff City Stadium.

"I know Craig Bellamy, we were teammates with him and his mindset is 'give us anyone, it doesn't matter'," Earnshaw stated.

"Many supporters were asking last night, 'should we actually want Republic of Ireland because of that derby atmosphere?'. In my view a number of people didn't. But personally, that would be amazing.

"It's one of those, yes, we're ready for the Kosovans or Bosnia and Albania are decent and Republic of Ireland, naturally, they are a very good team so it will be difficult.

"However the sense is that we're prepared for anybody right now and we're confident, and a lot of that is down to Craig Bellamy."

Possible Play-off Semifinal Opponents Assessed

The Welsh squad are placed thirty-fourth in the FIFA standings, with the Albanian team 61st, Republic of Ireland 62nd, Bosnia 75th and Kosovo 84th.

The Albanian national team had a impressive qualification campaign, with their only losses suffered at the hands of their group winners England, who secured maximum points without conceding a single goal.

Burnley's Armando Broja and the Serie A side's Elseid Hysaj are among the Albanian squad's more notable names, although it was former Inter Milan, Barcelona and Watford striker Rey Manaj who topped their goal tally in the qualifiers with three goals.

Notably, the Albanians have never earned a spot for a World Cup, although they participated at the 2016 European Championship and Euro 2024, not managing to advance to the knockout stages on each occasions.

As Slovenia and Sweden had poor runs, with each failing to win a qualifying match, their group was a direct battle between Switzerland and Kosovo.

The Switzerland finished the six-game qualifiers three points clear of the Kosovans, whose single defeat came at the hands of the group winners.

The Kosovan squad include ex- Manchester City goalkeeper Arijanet Muric and La Liga's Vedat Muriqi – his country's historic top scorer – in a squad targeting a maiden international competition appearance.

They have never faced the Welsh team.

Bosnia lost just once in qualifying, and earned a point additional than the Welsh managed in their 8 games, but still finished 2 points behind of Group H winners Austria.

They were 13 minutes away from clinching a place at the finals, but Michael Gregoritsch's leveler for the Austrians ensured the teams tied in the last game of qualification and Ralf Rangnick's team won the pool.

The Welsh have not managed to defeat the Bosnian side in 4 attempts but experienced a memorable defeat against Zmajevi as they earned qualification for Euro 2016 under Chris Coleman despite the defeat.

Being his country's historic top goalscorer and record appearance player, former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, currently with Fiorentina, is unquestionably Bosnia-Herzegovina's standout player.

The 39-year-old was his team's top scorer in the qualifiers with five goals.

And finally, we have Ireland.

Having taken only a single point from their first three qualifiers, Heimir Hallgrímsson's side stormed into the play-offs with successive wins against Armenia, Portugal and Hungary.

Troy Parrott netted both goals against Euro 2016 winners Portugal before bagging a hat-trick – with the final goal arriving in the 96th minute – as the Irish surprised Hungary to secure second place in their group in dramatic style.

Talisman Seamus Coleman played a vital role in his team's revival while Brentford goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has made the number one jersey his own.

Ireland are without a win in their last 4 encounters with Wales, losing 3 of those, though James McClean shattered the hopes of the Welsh fans as Martin O'Neill's men won a crucial World Cup qualifier at Cardiff City Stadium in 2017.